Liability Findings May Lead to Damages Owed by Workers’ Party Leaders and Town Council Staff
SINGAPORE: The Court of Appeal has ruled that Workers’ Party leaders Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang are liable for negligence regarding the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) payment processes. However, WP chief Pritam Singh was cleared of any negligence in this matter.
This development marks a significant update in the extended civil trial addressing alleged mismanagement of S$33.7 million (US$25 million) in town council funds by WP leaders and other town council members involved with AHTC at the time. Alongside this ruling, the Apex Court upheld previous findings that AHTC employees and town councilors are also liable to Sengkang Town Council for not implementing adequate control measures in the payment system. The lack of safeguards, compounded by conflicted interests from managing agents within AHTC, posed a risk of overpayment.
Additionally, the court determined that Ms. Lim was negligent in awarding a contract to Red-Power Electrical Engineering without proving good faith in her decision to forgo existing, more affordable contracts. However, the Court of Appeal overturned earlier judgments that implicated all three WP leaders, including Pritam Singh, and cast doubt on their integrity.
This judgment follows the Workers’ Party’s victory in Sengkang GRC during the 2020 General Election, leading to the transfer of assets and liabilities, including legal proceedings, to the Sengkang Town Council.
